Chronic Pain and COVID-19 — Pain patients may be hit harder than others [MedPage Today]

Chronic pain patients may be more susceptible to COVID-19, and if infected with the virus, may face different consequences than others.

“There is a complex relationship between chronic pain and the immune system,” said Samer Narouze, MD, PhD, of Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

“Generally speaking, chronic pain patients can be considered immunocompromised, mainly because so many are elderly and have multiple comorbidities,” he noted. “Many also are on long-term opioid therapy, and this is known to interact with the immune system. Some are on steroids, which also may induce immunosuppression.”

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